Membership

JEA maintains its commitment to scholastic journalism education and continues to provide affordable membership to give media advisers access to resources and programs to improve their teaching, advising and professional development.

JEA continually evaluates its benefits and resources to best serve members. Recent enhancements include a website redesign, a new membership management system, adding and updating lesson plans in the curriculum resources, adding searchable C:JET archives and expanding JEA programs to serve underrepresented populations.

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Member benefits

Curriculum

JEA has created lesson plans — nearly 200 weeks’ worth — across 11 content areas, complete with learning outcomes, assessments, evaluation guides, models and alignment to standards including the Common Core and Partnership for 21st Century Skills.

Certification

Qualified instructors may earn Certified Journalism Educator status through JEA. Certification validates an adviser’s credibility as a journalism teacher and recognizes their commitment to journalistic training. Master Journalism Educator status recognizes teachers who demonstrate outstanding abilities and expertise in the journalism field through a test and a written project. A certification directory is provided to recipients and their principals.

Publications

Members receive subscriptions to the quarterly journal Communication: Journalism Education Today, often called C:JET, in hard copy by postal mail. JEA also provides an online directory to all current members.

Conventions

In conjunction with the National Scholastic Press Association, JEA hosts two national conventions each year. At the conventions, JEA offers competitions for students in nearly 50 categories, a National Journalism Quiz Bowl, certification testing, nearly 300 instructional sessions and many other activities for teachers and students.

Awards

JEA recognizes teachers, administrators and professionals who make a significant contribution to scholastic journalism. The Carl Towley Award, Medal of Merit, Lifetime Achievement Awards, Administrator of the Year, Linda S. Puntney Teacher Inspiration Award, Diversity Award, Rising Star, Candace and John Bowen Adviser First Amendment Leadership Award and Friend of Scholastic Journalism are presented annually. The H.L. Hall National High School Yearbook Adviser of the Year is honored at the spring convention and Broadcast Adviser of the Year is recognized in the fall.

JEA Advisers Institute

Whether you are a new adviser looking for basic survival tips or a veteran seeking help rejuvenating a program — or yourself — the summer Advisers Institute has the answer. In a challenging, hands-on atmosphere, JEA offers instruction in technology, law and ethics, and advising student publications. Participants may earn 22 clock hours or 2.2 CEU. Members receive a reduced registration rate to attend.

JEA Forum

A online community forum is available to members. It’s a useful tool for networking, sharing resources and getting insight from others who advise student media.

JEA Store

The JEA Store offers members books, posters, shirts and other items helpful for teaching journalism and advising student publications. You may order by mail or online throughout the year or visit our exhibit at NHSJC national conventions.

Mentoring Program

Members needing advice or help with teaching journalism and advising student media may ask to be paired with a veteran teacher/adviser to mentor them.

NCTE Assembly

All JEA members are also members of the Assembly for Advisers of Student Publications, the largest assembly of National Council of Teachers of English. Meetings are held at NCTE national conventions.

Membership levels and annual dues

Teacher/Adviser $95

Teacher/adviser members shall be media advisers and educators of public, private and parochial schools, community colleges, schools or departments of journalism in universities or teachers’ colleges.

Teacher/adviser members shall receive all JEA publications, may participate in meetings or conferences, vote, hold office, nominate candidates for office and propose actions or programs and are entitled to all services provided by the association.

International Teacher/Adviser $115

Administrator/Non-Teacher $95

Administrator/non-teacher members shall be such people as school superintendents, curriculum specialists; principals, assistant principals, librarians, CTE coordinators or other educators who are not classroom teachers of public, private and parochial schools, community colleges, schools or departments of journalism in universities or teachers’ colleges.

Administrator/non-teacher members shall receive all JEA publications, may participate in meetings or conferences, vote, hold office, nominate candidates for office and propose actions or programs.

Lifetime Teacher/Adviser $899

Emeritus Teacher/Adviser $35

This category includes retired teachers or advisers who are still interested in scholastic journalism, unless they are employed by commercial firms providing sales and services to journalism teachers and publications advisers or are engaged in other commercial enterprises, which might represent a conflict of interest.

Retired Teacher/Adviser members shall receive all JEA publications, may participate in meetings or conferences, vote, hold office, nominate candidates for office and propose actions or programs.

Associate $90

Associate Members shall be individuals outside the field of education who have a strong personal interest in journalism and support of its aims including, but not limited to, professional practicing journalists in all media and employees of commercial firms providing sales or services to journalism teachers.

Associate members shall receive all JEA publications, may participate in meetings or conferences, but shall not vote nor hold office nor nominate candidates for office nor propose actions or programs.

College Student $25

Affiliate $115

Institution $115

Institutional Members shall be:

All public and private libraries
Regional, state and national press associations
Departments of journalism in community colleges and universities whether public, private or parochial.
Commercial press associations, book, yearbook, magazine or newspaper publishers.
All firms, organizations and agencies engaged in the production of graphic arts or advertising.
Television and radio stations.
Educational or philanthropic foundations.

The designated representative of institutions shall receive all JEA publications, may participate in meetings or conferences, but shall not vote nor hold office nor nominate candidates for office nor propose actions or programs.

This is not a site license for journalism educators at a school. Journalism educators should purchase individual teacher/adviser memberships, listed above.

Honorary

Honorary members shall be persons devoted to the interest of successfully promoting secondary school journalism and its related fields. All presidents, upon completion of one full term of office, and all Carl Towley award winners shall become honorary members for life. Other honorary members may be elected for life by the board of directors. Honorary members shall receive all JEA publications, may participate in meetings and conferences, but shall not vote nor hold office nor nominate candidates, actions or programs, except that those who were previously teacher/adviser members shall retain all rights of that membership.

Become a member today

Level up your classroom with access to 100+ resources and various educational opportunities. Plus, get connected to a network of education professionals throughout the country.

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Photo of a an adviser and student looking at a newsmagazine together